The Fifth Cord (1971)
Franco Nero plays a journalist with a booze problem (lucky old J&B) who the police suspect is a murderer. Clearly concerned by this he sets out to discover who is killing seemingly random people but leaving a black glove with a finger removed on each victim.
The Fifth Cord is an enjoyable giallo. It's years since i watched the film and i'd forgotten much of it, which is always a bonus when it comes to a rewatch, meaning i didn't know what was coming next nor how the film was resolved. Director Luigi Bazzoni keeps us guessing who the killer is throughout and at times i did wonder if it was actually Nero who was the culprit. Perhaps slightly out of the ordinary for the giallo genre, the victims aren't restricted to being female, the male folk also come under attack here.
The film is technically impressive. Bazzoni is a fine director and is aided by the visually stunning photography of Vittorio Storaro. In fact it's the photography that makes
The Fifth Cord stand out more than any one other aspect. Well that and Ennio Morricone's score.
Despite it being enjoyable
The Fifth Cord isn't perfect by any means. There isn't an awful lot of suspense, meaning the kills, whilst well done, aren't edge of the seat stuff in the best traditions of Argento, Martino, or personal favourite of mine, Antonio Margheriti.The rest of the cast seem to flit in and out of proceedings. Some such as Rossella Falk don't have much screen time at all but her death, (the one with the most suspense i should add) is rather memorable and well executed, if you'll pardon the pun, with Storaro's framing an absolute delight. It's this haphazzardness of screen time that means aside from Nero there's not really anyone to empathize with.
Luckily Franco Nero, a legend of Italian cinema, holds the film together. He's a natural fit for the alcoholic reporter, his often laid back, laconic style somewhat perfect casting for a role that could be considered cliched in Italian crime thrillers of the era.
Bazzoni also directed the more obscure
Footprints on the Moon(1975). A real love it or hate it example of gialli. Whilst
The Fifth Cord doesn't compare with that later film it's still an enjoyable example of the genre.